The Impact of Undermining Coparenting on the Mental and Physical Health Outcomes of Black Fathers: The Role of Depression and Restrictive Emotionality.

The parenting literature has established the coparenting relationship as central to the parenting behaviors and outcomes of men. The construct of coparenting encompasses supportive efforts among individuals that facilitate the rearing of children and unsupportive actions that can undermine parenting efforts (Merrifield & Gamble, 2013). Few studies have examined undermining coparenting as an experience that shapes Black men's health outcomes. In this study, we apply the social determinants of health framework to examine the impact of Black fathers' perceptions of undermining coparenting on their self-reported ratings of mental and physical health. Using a nationally representative sample of Black men (n = 255), correlational analyses revealed perceptions of undermining coparenting to be a significant predictor of higher levels of anger and poorer perceptions of physical health. These relationships were found to be mediated by depressive symptoms and moderated by restrictive emotionality. It is recommended that the negative impact of undermining coparenting on health be considered as a potential comorbidity contributing to negative health outcomes for Black men. This study adds to the literature on coparenting, Black men's health, and Black fatherhood more generally and urges policymakers and practitioners to consider undermining as an often overlooked, but significant, social determinant of health impacting the well-being of Black men. We also offer recommendations for promoting Black men's health by educating families on the effects of undermining and offering the supports necessary for achieving positive coparenting dynamics.

African American Fathers as a Solution to the Maternal Health Crisis.

The research is limited to the role of African American (AA) fathers in maternal health. African American fathers are largely not included in perinatal care, and their contribution may be essential in addressing the Black maternal health disparity crisis. The purpose of this conceptual paper is to examine the evidence of African American fathers involvement in supporting maternal health during the perinatal period. This conceptual paper will summarize research findings and will focus on 1) the evolution of the concept of fatherhood and the role of African American fathers; 2) the extent of African American fathers engagement during the perinatal period; and 3) the potential for African American fathers to play a key role in improving maternal health. Findings from this paper will enhance the evidence base on fathers' involvement in maternal health, highlight the research gaps, and opportunities to focus on African American fathers in addressing maternal morbidity and mortality among African American women.

Time to act: A rubric-based approach for institutionalizing justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Attacks on minoritized communities and increasing awareness of the societal causes of health disparities have combined to highlight deep systemic inequities. In response, academic health centers have prioritized justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) in their strategic goals. To have a sustained impact, JEDI efforts cannot be siloed; rather, they must be woven into the fabric of our work and systematically assessed to promote meaningful outcomes and accountability. To this end, the University of Pittsburgh's Institute for Clinical Research Education assembled a task force to create and apply a rubric to identify short and long-term JEDI goals, assess the current state of JEDI at our Institute, and make recommendations for immediate action. To ensure deep buy-in, we gathered input from diverse members of our academic community, who served on targeted subcommittees. We then applied a three-step process to ensure rapid forward progress. We emerged with concrete actions for priority focus and a plan for ongoing assessment of JEDI institutionalization. We believe our process and rubric offer a scalable and adaptable model for other institutions and departments to follow as we work together across academic medical institutions to put our justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion goals into meaningful action.